Almora District
Water shortage, poor health facilities on voter’s mind
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, December 31
The people in all the six Assembly segments of Almora district have a common problem of lack of drinking water, which they have been facing since the inception of the state. Besides, the perennial drinking water problem, the lack of doctors in the community health centres and teachers in the schools are the other problems. The respective governments in the state have failed to solve these problems in the past 11 years.

“These basic problems could not be solved as these require mega change in the traditional plan mechanism and big investment in the basic facility sectors,” said Naveen Bisht, a senior journalist of the district.

Almora

The people of Almora say the problem of drinking water shortage and continuously reducing traditional water resources can be solved by supplying water to these areas through lift schemes from the Pindar river but it seems a distant dream. “The Pindar project, and a barrage on the Kosi river could solve the drinking water problem and the people want it besides solution to other difficulties of road connectivity and power availability,” said Bisht.

Someshwar

The Someshwar Assembly segment (reserved) also has the same problem of drinking water shortage and lack of road connectivity in the fruit-producing areas of the constituency. “The main problem of the Someshwar villages is the lack of road connectivity to markets,” said Satish Pandey, a shopkeeper of the Someshwar market. The people also want the criminal cases lodged against some villagers, who had led a movement to press for these facilities, be taken back. “The sitting MLA did nothing in this direction despite the fact that he belonged to the ruling party,” said Pawan Joshi, a social worker in the Someshwar area.

Jageswar

The Jageswar voters have much to complaint to the sitting Congress MLA. “At least three former Chief Ministers have promised to open a degree college in Danya, the central place between Almora and Pithoragarh in the Jageshwar constituency, but nothing has been done so far,” said Ganesh Pandey, former member of the Danya Block Development Committee.

The people of Jageshwar are also facing the problem of drinking water shortage in the villages as according them, the local sources have dried up. “To get rid of this problem, the Saryu lift drinking water scheme has been proposed with an initial plan cost of Rs 21 crore. It would have supplied drinking water lifted from the Saryu river to more than 103 villages of Dhauladevi block but it could not get started as yet despite revised estimates of Rs 40 crore by the department concerned,” said Pandey, adding that besides, opening of an ITI at Danya and the Doram lift scheme for the Lamgara villages are other issues people would like to be addressed.

Ranikhet

In the Ranikhet seat of the district, the people are still feeling that the BJP government made the mockery of their long-standing demand of a separate district by only announcing it but not taking it seriously. “Besides the prolonged demand of separate district of Ranikhet, the people also want to get rid of the Cantonment area and demand a separate civic body for the town besides the lift drinking water scheme on the Gagas river which will cater to 25,000 population of the town,” said Ravindra Joshi, a senior citizen and leader of the movement for separate district of Ranikhet.

Salt

The voters of the Salt assembly constituency, which is situated at a distance of 150 km from the district headquarters, are happy that their legislator Ranjit Rawat has opened a public school in their constituency. More than 70,000 people of Salt are still to get sufficient schools, teachers and medical facilities. Those who can afford go to the nearest market of Haldwani for medical facilities but the poor have nowhere to go. “Situated quited a distance from the Almora district headquarters, the people of Salt are always neglected in the allocation of district and state plan budgets for basic infrastructure,” said Ranjit Mahara, a social worker of the Bhikiasain market.

Dwarahat

On the other hand, the Dwarahat Assembly segment has flat fields and fertile land. It is situated in the Ram Ganga river valley. “The migration of villagers from the Dwarahat area to the plains is minimum not because of the efforts of the local MLA but due to abundance of natural resources in the valley,” says Jagat Rautela of the Dwarahat market. 

Rapprochement between UKD, URM unlikely: CPI
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 31
The patience of Left parties, the CPI and CPM is dithering over the inordinate delay taking place on the issue of seat distribution between the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) and the Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha (URM) in the Uttarakhand United Regional Front (UURF).

They have taken upon the task to themselves to talk to the UKD and URM separately and iron out the differences among them, though inside they too find plausible solution a remote possibility in this case.

Samar Bhandari, state secretary, CPI, admitted that the rapprochement between the UKD and URM seemed least likely with the progression of time.

“The candidates’ names for the nomination has to be placed by January 5. Since there is more than a week in the deadline of withdrawal of nomination, we can not go beyond that in continuing without endeavours to find an amicable solution of stalemate between both the parties. They have to be logical in their demands.”

Bhandari also protested the way the CPI (ML) was expelled from the UURF. “The way the fiasco between the UKD (P) and the URM is taking more time to solve than the expected, what the UURF constituents expect of us? The CPI (ML) declared their candidates as everyone is not patient like us.”

State secretary, CPM, Vijay Rawat, said it was high time that the wrangles between both the warring parties be brought to an end, as they wanted time to make the preparations for the elections.

“We have not yet announced candidates of our party for the specific seats. There are many more decisions to be made and much more to be done regarding funds and other preparations in wake of election of which very little time is left. But we can not do anything, as picture is still dismal about seats,” he added.

A senior leader of the UKD indicated that the constituent parties were deliberately compounding the issues on the seats. He said they could not forsake their claim on Dharchula, which had been a winning seat of party patron Kashi Singh Aeri, but URM president TPS Rawat was also seeking it for his party. Similarly, Dwarhaat seat from where UKD (P) MLA Pushpesh Tripathi registered periodic win in two successive assembly elections was vied by PC Tiwari, president of the Uttarakhand Parivartan Party, as well.

A meeting between Left parties and the UKD (P) could not take place today. 

State BJP Parliamentary Board Meeting
Consensus on increasing women, youth representation
Nishank comes out of meeting abruptly for half an hour
Ajay Ramola

Mussoorie, December 31
Finally, the BJP members of state parliamentary board put their thinking caps on to select a panel of three candidates each from all the 70 Assembly segments for the elections at a closed-door meeting held Mussoorie yesterday.

The state BJP president, Bishan Singh Chufal, said after the conclusion of the meeting names have been selected for committees in all the 70 seats. It was also decided at the meeting that the youth and women would be given substantial representation in the elections. However, the wining ability factor will also be considered in deciding the names for recommendation to the central parliamentary board. Chufal also said the meeting was held in an amicable environment where each member kept his view candidly.

The Chief Minister, Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri, said clean image was also one of the big factor in deciding the names. The BJP was prepared for the elections and the names had finalised at the meeting would be sent to the central parliamentary board which will then declare the names of the candidates two-three days before nominations.

Rajya Sabha MP Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, without divulging much, said the names of all the probable candidates were discussed in details. Speaking on the Lok Pal Bill, he said it was a murder of the democracy as the Congress was filibustering in Parliament and had no intention to pass during the Rajya Sabha session. The nation will teach the Congress a befitting lesson in the coming elections by bringing the BJP back with a thumping majority.

Former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was seen sitting in the lobby for at least half an hour even as the meeting was on. The BJP members, however, denied any animosity between him and Khanduri over the names which were finalised yesterday.

The meeting ended at around 7 pm. Dharmendar Pradhan, Dhan Singh, Bishan Singh Chufal and Nishank had a discussion after the meeting for half an hour. 

BJP has no heavyweight to field from Haldwani
Rajeev Khanna
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 31
With Cabinet minister Bansidhar Bhagat being more inclined to contest the coming Assembly elections from the Kaladhungi Assembly constituency, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has a major problem at hand.

The party does not have a heavyweight to field from the Haldwani constituency which was being represented by Bhagat. The Haldwani constituency carries a lot of weight and political significance. Known as the gateway to Kumaon, most of the political developments take place here.

Any programme of political parties is judged by the support that it gets in Haldwani. The reason being that the town’s demographic profile today depicts a healthy mix of the people from the hilly terrain as well as those from the Terai and Bhabar areas of the region.

People from the hills who possess the resources have made a beeline for this town for setting up homes and hearths. Along with them have come their dreams and aspirations.

For the BJP, retaining this seat would mean a lot. The Congress is likely to field a heavyweight with the main contender for the seat being former Cabinet minister Indira Hridayesh.

Former chairperson of the Nagar Palika Board Renu Adhikari is also in the line for ticket from the Congress. Even the Samajwadi Party has fielded a heavyweight from the seat. Abdul Mateen Siddiqui is the party’s candidate who claims to have a sizeable number of voters in his favour.

Bhagat had wrested the seat from Hridayesh in 2007. He has had an earlier experience of being a minister in the undivided Uttar Pradesh as well as in the first interim government in the state. The BJP would be looking for a substitute who has some experience at the top level in the organisational matters of the party, if not in the government.

There are several contestants who have queued up to get party ticket. The list includes the names of Hukam Singh Kunwar, Bhuvan Bhandari, Prakash Harbola, Dr Anil Kapoor Dabbu, Pradeep Bisht, Rajesh Malhotra, Vijay Praash, Nischal Pandey and Hemand Dwivedi. However, none of them is anywhere near Bhagat in terms of his standing in the party organisation. 

Control room set up for elections
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 31
District Election Officer and District Magistrate Dileep Jawalkar said a control room had been set up to conduct the Assembly election in a successful manner. The toll free number is 1950 and telephone numbers are 0135-2724240 and 2724241.

He said Vinay Shankar Pandey had been appointed as the in charge of the election code of conduct and an office to this effect had been set up on the GMVN premises on the Rajpur road as well.

Mukhaya Nagar Adhikari and Sushil Kumar Sharma have been appointed as the in charge of the election expenditure. To keep an eye on the expenditure of the political parties, account team has also been deputed. He said all officers would be considered on deputation in the Election Commission of India to ensure that instructions of the commission were followed.

Main fight between Cong, BJP in Bageshwar
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, December 31
Despite more than 90 aspirants intending to contest the Assembly elections for two seats of Bageshwar district from various political parties and as Independents, the main battle is likely between two main parties - the ruling BJP and the main Opposition, the Congress, in the district. Before delimitation of the district, all the three Assembly segments were represented by the ruling BJP.

Bageshwar has now two seats of Bageshwar and Kapkot left after the delimitation, with Bageshwar being reserved for Schedule Caste candidates.

The Congress Party is considering names of former minister Ram Prasad Tamta and Ranjit Das, a youth leader and son of former minister Gopal Ram Das from the Bageshwar seat as more than 10 other aspirants have also applied from the seat. “Ram Prasad Tamta could do nothing for the party during his stint, being an old man. The party should prefer young candidates to shape the future of the party,” said Ranjit Das, a young aspirant of the Congress ticket from the Bageshwar seat.

The BJP, on other hand, has more than 10 aspirants for the ticket, including Chandan Ram Das, Deepa Arya, Sajjan Lal Tamta and Mathura Prasad for the party ticket from the Bageshwar seat. The BSP has announced the name of BR Dhauni from the seat while the SP has announced the name of Hari Ram Shastri. The UKD and other regional political parties are in a fix over selection of their candidates.

In the VIP seat of Kapkot, which once was represented by former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, is likely to see a tough electoral battle as, besides the Congress and the BJP, other parties like the UKD (Panwar), the Hinduthan Nirman Dal, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have also announced the names of their candidates.

The Congress has more than 20 aspirants for the ticket from the Kapkot Assembly seat, including Lalit Farswan, Rajendra Tagaria, Ummed singh Majhila, Pratap singh Kathayat and two women candidates, Krishna Kapkoti and Shanti Danu, from the seat, while the BJP also has more than 20 aspirants, including state Social Welfare Minister Balwant Singh Bhauriyal, Sher Singh Garia, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari’s nephew, Manish Koshiyari, Govind Danu and former zila panchayat chairman Ram Singh Koranga. The BSP has announced the name of Karam Singh Danu and Samajwadi Party has announced the name of Bahadur Singh from the seat, while Hindusthan Nirman Dal has Hargovind Joshi as its candidate from the Kapkot seat, where, according to observers, the main contest is likely between BJP and Congress this year as well.

The total number of voters in Bageshwar (R) seat is 89,018, out of which 44,335 are male voters and 44,683 are female voters. The seat has 162 polling booths. The Kapkot seat in the district has 77073 total voters; out of these, the number of male voters is 37,888, and the number of female voters is 39,185. The seat has 162 polling booths. 

UKD factions send new names, party symbols
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 31
Both the factions of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) have sent the new names and symbols of their respective parties to the Election Commission of India (ECI). The UKD (P), led by Trivender Panwar, has given the name, the UKD Progressive and three symbols- car, tea-pot and cup-plate, as their options.

Interestingly, other faction, UKD (D) led by Diwakar Bhatt has also sent option of Car among the three symbols where as the other two are aeroplane and kite. The UKD (D) has opted for the name of the UKD Democratic. NK Gusain, UKD(P) leader, said they chose the symbols from the booklet provided by the ECI of unused symbols and zeroed in on the easy and much familiar objects so that the voters did not face any difficulty in remembering or relating to them.

The word ‘progressive’ was culled to depict the ideology of the party toward development. “We want to forge ahead with new innings, therefore the title Progressive felt most suitable. Similarly, we did not want to abandon our identity associated with the earlier name of the party so we have retained the word ‘UKD’ with due permission from the ECI,” he said. The Election Commission will give its decision in next two to three days.

SP candidate booked for code violation
Tribune News Service

Nainital, December 31
The administration has started taking action against those violating the model code of conduct.

Even as the majority of candidates are yet to be announced, at least by the two major parties, the Congress and the BJP, instances of gross violation have started coming to light which are promptly being dealt with by the election machinery.

The officials associated with the election exercise have already started issuing notices to politicians not adhering to the norms enlisted under the model code of conduct.

In a major development that has been reported from the Sitarganj constituency in Udham Singh Nagar district, Samajwadi Party candidate Vinay Mandal has been booked for code violation by the administrative machinery.

A double-barrelled gun whose licence is in his name and 20 cartridges were seized from one of his associates and two vehicles with his banners were also impounded as they were being plied in the area without prior permission.

The action agaist the SP candidate came following complaints being made by some persons against him.

In yet another instance, complaints have poured in from the Dineshpur area of the district stating that the model code of conduct is being violated with impunity and the laying of foundation stones and the inauguration of new facilities are going on unabated.

Reports say that a rain shelter meant for travellers was inaugurated on Thursday and in an attempt to hide the violation, the date of inauguration was not written on the plaque. The plaque stands in the name of Nagar Panchayat chairperson Seema Sarkar.

Various committees have been formed to ensure that the model code of conduct is followed by the candidates in letter and in spirit.